Cylinder construction



Dec. 23, 1958 G. E. BARNHART CYLINDER CONSTRUCTION Original Filed May 18. l954 INVENTOR. George E. Bornhorr BY mm #M A Horneys v.Ifhisirrvehtion has to do with cylindrical metal forms partlcularly with. piston or-cylinder assemblies to-be used for power elements or-accumulators. The applica- .IlOl'LlSfl division of myco-pending application Serial No. ,30,47,9,.filed IvIay'18, 1954,- now:Batent No. 2,785,026, .issued MarchlZ, 1957. 1

.Heretofore it. hasbeencustomary to shape cylindrical v,rnembers to size by machining. I find that-I can provide a greatlyimproved product by-cold-working metalcylin- .-.dr1cal;members'to.certainpreferredshapes. lhe members so formed have greatly increased strength over 'machmedmembersof the same material and are thus able to WlthStflIld :much higher internal fluid pressures than has iheretoforetbeen possible with machined elements. Also, I .amable to obtain extremely smooth, densesurfaces frce ,0f..porosity and foreign matter. In thisconnection it is known that many metals, .particularly aluminum alloys, .pick .up abrasive material when honed and this destroys conventional seal rings.

. :An object of theinventionisto provide novel andimproved cylindricalv members particularly designedto hold fluid pressurewhich are much stronger than machined membersv and which'have extremely smooth, dense surfaces free of foreign matter.

Another, object-.isto provide novel and improved constructionsfor joining cylinderheads or end closures and other elements to cylinders.

further object is to. provide a, piston and cylinder .QQnstruction whichis easy to assemble andto disassemble.

These, and .other objects will be apparent from the .drawingsand thefollowing description. Referring to the drawings:

' Fig. l is a sectional elevational -view through apiston 'andcylinder assembly embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary and elevational view on line :2- 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary and elevational view on line 33of Fig. 1;

"Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view of an alternate form of cylinder construction; and

"Fig. 5 is afragmentary sectionaldetailed view of an alternate cylinder end construction.

More particularly describing the invention, referring first to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 11 generally indicates a cylindrical member or cylinder, 12 a piston therein,.and 14 and .15 cylinder heads, or end closures. It is a particular .feature of my invention that the cylinder 11 is produced of metal, preferably steel, by cold-forming or cold-working, the'metal being drawn, pressure-shaped, or rolled to "the shape shown. The inner cylindrical surface 18 of the cylinder is dense, extremely smooth and free of foreign matter, and is thus suitable for holding fluid under high pressure. At one end this surface terminates in an in- --ternalshoulder 19 defining the inner limit of an inwardly projecting land 20. The shoulder 19 serves as a means of anchoring and retaining the cylinder end wall head 14 (or other member) the periphery of which is formed to provide-arim 22 having the stepped cylindrical outer surfaces 23 and 24 received :in the cylinder as shown and a ,shoulder 25 which abuts shoulder 19 of the cylinder. Sur- "face 23; of the head is grooved at 26 to receive a sealing fripg, such as the Oring 27.

tates PatentO Thehead 14is retainedbyla snap :ring 30 in:a'2groove of ther-head and aguard ring 32 serveslto-p'rotect this, being held byscrews33.

At its opposite end the-:cylinder 11'is formedwith an.

:ou-twardly .thicke'ned portion 35, the outer surface :of which tapers outwardly toward the end of the cylinder. 'Beyondthis is arelatively" thick cylindrical e'nd*section' 36 which has a cylindrical-inner surface 37-of;, greater diameter than-surface 18. Betweensurfaces--18*and"37vare ashort tapered surface -38 and a shoulder 39.

= The cylinder head 15' has acyIin'drical vperipheralfr im 40 which tits in theend portion-36of the cylinder. The head 15 is provided with-a groove 41 to-accommodate a seal ring 42.

1 The cylinder-head-15'is retained by-meansofa snap ring Ad overlying the -outer end of the head and-p0sitioned ina groove 45' in theendportio-n 36 ofthe cylinder. .Thefsnap ringis t retained by several circumferentiallyispaced plates 47 secured by-screws 48. 1 a

A guard band 513 may be provided at the-end off-the cylinder.

. The/construction described-providesan extrernelystrong cylinder eminently suited for withstanding high' fluid pressures. I

Referring nowto Fig. 4, I show amodified form of construction wherein a cylinder member -11Bis provided which-is generally-similar ,to-the cylinder-11in wall configuration bnt-Whichprovides a different-means of securingthecylinderheads (:or othermembers) therein. In

this form of theinvention thecylinder head 14B, which is. generally similarto cylinder head 14, is provided with a threaded exterior surface 180 to accommodate a threaded .retainingring 31 which screws thereon intoabutting relationwith the end. ofthecylinder 11B.

The opposite end of cylinder 11B is threaded interiorly at SZand exteriorlyat 83. At this end of thecylinder acylinder head 15B'is provided which is generally similar to the one 15 but .diifers therefrom in having an exterior threaded surface 84 whereby the same may be'threaded into the end of the cylinder. A guard ring 85 isthreaded over the end of thecylinder.

Referring-to Fig-5 I show a cylinder 11D which is formed at one end with a thickened section 112 providing a cylindrical surface 113 of lesser diameter than the main portion of the cylinder. The cylinder receives a cylinder head-ofthe type 14B-and this is retained by a ring, 11.4 which threads onto the cylinder head. The end of the cylinder is beveled sat 116 and the inner surface .of the ring correspondingly formed. 1 A gasket 117 of metal 0.1 other suitable material, is placed between the parts.

1. In a tubular assembly, a cylindrical mainamember characterized by .a cylindrical inner surface extending substantially the length of-said member, a radially inwardlyprojecting shallow-first shoulder at one end of said surface, and a radially outwardly projecting second shoulder at the other end of said surface, said member having an end cylindrical inner surface'between said second shoulder and the end of said member, a first head member received in; said main member in abutment with saidfirst shoulder, means detachably retaining said first head member, a second head member mounted within the .end of said main member having said end cylindricalinner surface andagainstsaid second shoulder, and-means detachably securing said second head member against-said second shoulder.

2. A cylinder construction, comprising: atubularmetal member "formed to provide a cylindrical body havinga main wall section of constant thickness, an outwardly tapered thickened section atone end of said main wall section, andan end section therebeyond-having an inner 3 cylindrical surface of greater diameter than the inner diameter of said main wall section, said inner cylindrical surface having an annular groove therein; a cylinder head received in said end section of said member, inwardly of said groove; a split retaining ring mounted in said groove in abutting engagement with an outer surface .of said head; and a split ring retaining means detachably secured to said head and engaging the interior surface of said ring. t

3. A construction as set forth in claim 2, in which said tubular metal member is formed to provide a radially inwardly extending shoulder at the other end of said main wall section, and in which a closure is mounted within said other end in engagement with and held against outward movement by said shoulder.

4. In means for limiting relative axial movement of a pair of members having interfitting cylindrical portions, one of said members having a circumferential groove in its cylindrical portion, a split ring in said groove projecting radially into the path of the other member, and a ring retainer member secured to one of said members in position to prevent said split ring from flexing suificiently to escape from said groove.

5. In a cylinder construction, a cylinder providing an internal groove adjacent one end thereof, a cylinder head member received in said cylinder, a split ring received in said groove, and a ring retainer means carried by said head member in position to prevent escape of said split ring from said groove.

6. In a tubular assembly, a cylindrical main member characterized by a cylindrical inner surface extending substantially the length of said member, a radially inwardly projecting shallow first shoulder at one end of said surface, and a radially outwardly projecting second shoulder at the other end of said surface, said member having an end cylindrical inner surface between said second shoulder and the end of said member, a first head member received in said main member in abutment with said first shoulder, means detachably retaining said first head member, a second head member mounted within the end of said main member having said end cylindrical inner surface and against said second shoulder, and means detachably securing said second head member against said second shoulder, said last-mentioned means comprising a groove in said end cylindrical inner surface of said main member, a split ring in said groove partially overlying an outer surface of said second head member, and detachable means carried by one of said second head member and said main member for retaining said split ring.

7. In a tubular assembly, a cylindrical main member characterized by a cylindrical inner surface extending substantially the length of said member, a radially inwardly projecting shallow first shoulder at one end of said surface, and a radially outwardly projecting second shoulder at the other end of said surface, said member having an end cylindrical inner surface between said second shoulder and the end ofsaid member, a first head member received in said main member in abutment with said first shoulder, means detachably retaining said first head member, a second head member mounted within the end of said main memberhaving said end cylindrical inner surface and against said second shoulder, and means -detachably securing said second head member against said second shoulder, the means detachably retaining said'first head member comprising a groove in said head member, a split ring in said groove partially overlying the adjacent outer end of said main member, a guard ring substantially enclosing said split ring and overlying the end portion of said main member, said guard ring serving to retain said split ring, and detachable means retaining said guard ring.

8. In a tubular assembly, a cylindrical main member characterized by acylindrical inner surface extending substantially the length of said member, a radially inwardly projecting shallow first shoulder at one end of said surface, and a radially outwardly projecting second shoulder at the other end of said surface, said member having an end cylindrical inner surface between said second shoulder and the end of said member, a first head member received in said main member in abutment with said first shoulder, means detachably retaining said first head member, a second head member mounted within the end of said main member having said end cylindrical inner surface and against said second shoulder, and means detachably securing said second head member against said second shoulder, the means detachably retaining said first head member comprising a threaded portion on said first head member and an internally threaded ring on said threaded portion in abutment with the end of said main member.

9. In a tubular assembly, a cylindrical main member characterized by a cylindrical inner surface extending substantially the length of said member, a radially inwardly projecting shallow first shoulder at one end of said surface, and a radially outwardly projecting second shoulder at the other end of said surface, said member having an end cylindrical inner surface between said second shoulder and the end of said member, a first head member received in said main member in abutment with said first shoulder, means detachably retaining said first head member, a second head member mounted within the end of said ma n member having said end cylindrical inner surface and against said second shoulder, and means detachably securing said second head member against said second shoulder, the means detachably retaining said first head member comprising a threaded portion on said first head member and an integrally threaded ring on said threaded portion said ring and the end of said main member adjacent thereto being complementarily beveled, and a seal ring between said ring and said main member.

10. In a tubular assembly, a cylindrical main member characterized by a cylindrical inner surface extending substantially the length of said member, a radially inwardly projecting shallow first shoulder at one end of said surface, a radially outwardly projecting second shoulder at the other end of said surface, said member having an end cylindrical inner surface between said second shoulder and the end of said member, a first head member received in said main member in abutment with said first shoulder, means detachably retaining said first head member, a'second head member mounted within the end of said main member having said end cylindrical inner surface and against said second shoulder, and means detachably securing said second head member against said second shoulder, said last mentioned means comprising internal and external threaded portions formed on said main member, external threads on said second head member, and an internally threaded guard ring threaded on said main member and overlying a portion of the outer surface of said second head member.

11. In combination, a first member, a second member, said first and second members having interfitting cylindrical portions, one of said members'having a circumferential groove in its cylindrical portion, a third member for limiting relative axial movement between said first and second members, said third member comprising a flexible split ring in said groove projecting into the path of the other of said first and second members, and a ring retainer member secured to one of said first, second and third members in position to prevent said third member from flexing sufficiently to escape from said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

